The Provisional Central Government of Vietnam was formed in 1948, and was the first body in modern history to encompass a border covering what today is regarded as Vietnam. In 1949, the Emperor Bao Dai was named as Chief of State of the newly established State of Vietnam, which officially declared independence from France and would exist until the partitioning of Vietnam in 1955 and the formation of the Republic of Vietnam in southern Vietnam. During the First Indochina War, The State of Vietnam fought alongside French forces against the Viet Minh. After the partitioning much of the military and governmental aparatus of the State of Vietnam formed the foundations of the Republic of Vietnam. Presented here are images from photographs of military personnel of The State of Vietnam, 1949-1955. The Republic of Vietnam Historical Society has been actively collecting, preserving, and cataloging photographs relating to the history of The Republic of Vietnam for over the past decade. All of the photos collected are private-personal images once held by soldiers and their families, which have never been published. The bulk of the photo archive of RVNHS is related to the years 1955-1975, but a large number of State of Vietnam era photographs have also been collected. Below is a sampling of some of the images housed in the archive, but many more are also in the collection.

Officer Academy at Hue, 1940s.

Officer Cadets, Dalat, 1950s.

NCO and Enlistedman, Studio Portrait, 1950s.

Policemen, 1950s.

Artillery Gun and Crew, 1950s.

2nd Lieutenants in Jeep, 1951.

Assembled Unit in village, 1950s.

Planes in Jungle clearing, 1950s.

Soldier's Funeral, 1950s.

Policemen, 1950s.

Dalat Academy Cadet, 1954.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Unit at ease, 1950s.

Alternate photo of same group.

Field Radio Crew, 1950s.

Halftracks, 1950s.

Checking supplies, 1949.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Field Meal, 1950s.

Machine Gun Crew, 1950s.

2nd Lieutenant, 1950s.

Junior Officer, 1950s.

Roadside Column, 1953.

Assembled unit, 1950s.

Training, 1950s.

Field Shelter, 1950s.

Unit Outpost, 1950s.

Fortified Defenses, 1950s.

Iconic State of Vietnam Infantryman, 1950s.

Junior Officer, 1954.

Infantryman and Dispatch Rider, Tuy Hoa, 1954.

Dispatch Rider, 1950s.

Naval Officers and Children, 1950s.

Vietnamese and French Officers outside a Cao Dai Temple, 1950s.

Unit in the field, 1950s.

On patrol, 1950s.

State of Vietnam Major, 1950s.

Infantryman at firing ranger, 1950s.

Soldiers in Dalat, 1954.

Infantry unit and local officials, 1950s.

Landing Craft, 1950s.

In the field, 1950s.

Unit on patrol, 1950s.

Alternate photo of same group.

Soldiers at rest, 1953.

Reverse of previous photo.

Vietnamese and French NCOs, 1950s.

Officers, 1953.

Unit in Soc Trang, 1951.

Officers and civilians, 1950s.

Infantryman with drawn bayonet, 1950s.

At ease, 1950s.

Officer cadet, 1950s.

Outside government offices, 1950s.

Women's Auxiliary, 1954.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Air Force Pilots, 1950s.

Air Force Pilots, 1950s.

Air Force Funeral, 1950s.

Air Force Funeral, 1950s.

Air Force Funeral, 1950s.

Air Force Funeral, 1950s.

Soldiers and Jeep, 1950s.

Vietnamese and French Indian Soldiers, 1950s.

Inspection, 1950s.

Troops in brush camouflage, 1950s.

Unit taking a meal, 1950s.

Vietnamese and French pilots, 1950s.

Paratrooper, 1952.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Airborne Drop, 1950s.

Airborne Drop, 1950s.

Airborne Drop, 1950s.

Airborne Drop, 1950s.

Policemen, 1950s.

On Patrol, 1950s.

Officer cadets at Dalat, 1954.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Police Post, 1950s.

Policemen, 1950s.

Training, 1950s.

Reverse of Previous Photo.

Field Shelter, 1950s.

At ease, 1950s.

Unit in the field, 1950s.

At ease, 1950s.

All Text on this site and All Photographs featuring an RVNHS watermark are the Copyrighted Intellectual Property of RVNHS. Copying or use of this material is not permitted without written permission from the Republic of Vietnam Historical Society.